Breaking News:FIA Disqualifies Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc f…read more
FIA Disqualifies Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc f…read more
In a significant post-race development at the 2025 Chinese Grand Prix, both Ferrari drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc, were disqualified due to technical infringements identified during post-race inspections.
Details of the Disqualifications
- Lewis Hamilton: Initially finishing sixth, Hamilton’s Ferrari was found to have excessive wear on the rear skid block. Measurements indicated thicknesses of 8.6mm on the left-hand side, 8.6mm at the centerline, and 8.5mm on the right-hand side—below the minimum 9mm thickness mandated by Article 3.5.9 of the FIA Technical Regulations.
- Charles Leclerc: Leclerc, who crossed the line in fifth place, faced disqualification after his car was found to be under the minimum weight requirement. Post-race weighing revealed his car weighed 799kg, 1kg below the 800kg minimum specified in Article 4.1 of the Technical Regulations.
Ferrari acknowledged both infractions, attributing them to genuine errors without any intent to gain a competitive advantage.
Impact on Race Results and Standings
The double disqualification significantly altered the race results:
- Esteban Ocon (Haas) was promoted to fifth place.
- Kimi Antonelli (Mercedes) moved up to sixth.
- Alex Albon (Williams) and Oliver Bearman (Ferrari) advanced to seventh and eighth positions, respectivel.
- Lance Stroll and Carlos Sainz also entered the points, finishing ninth and tenth.
Ferrari’s loss of 18 points due to the disqualifications has impacted their position in the Constructors’ Championship, leaving them trailing behind leaders McLaren.
Team and Driver Reactions
Despite the setback, Lewis Hamilton expressed unwavering confidence in Ferrari’s capabilities, emphasizing the team’s commitment to learning from the incident.
Team Principal Fred Vasseur highlighted the challenges of operating at the limits of performance and regulations, acknowledging the fine margins that led to the infractions.
This event marks a rare occurrence in Formula 1 history, being the first time both Ferrari cars have been disqualified from a Grand Prix.
